Inclusivity may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of OnlyFans, but the truth is that it is one of the most inclusive platforms out there — at least, it is for disabled people. The platform provides disabled people opportunities to create income in a safe, accessible way, while also providing them with the opportunity to have an emotional or sexual connection. (Virtually, at least.)
In a world that is often inaccessible to many disabled people, places like OnlyFans offer a refuge that many haven’t had access to before.
For creators, the subscription-based platform provides a safe option for people who may struggle to find work in more traditional jobs. Whether they’re dealing with an invisible or visible disability, many struggle to thrive in the often-demanding 9-5 careers that society values. OnlyFans has allowed many people the chance to create content that empowers them and pays them, so they’re able to live on their own and live the kind of life they want.
One creator known as Alex A has shared her story about how important it is for her to work as a porn star and show her disability. Alex’s condition used to be considered invisible, as she battled ulcerative colitis from the age of 10. She struggled to make ends meet as she grew up, often finding herself choosing between buying groceries or paying for her life-saving medication.
That’s when she turned to sex work. While Alex ended up loving the profession, she was left with a big decision as her ulcerative colitis worsened. She ended up having surgery that left her without a colon and with an ileostomy. She worried that she would never be able to return to her beloved profession, a concern that was amplified as she sat in the waiting room for a regular post-surgery appointment and realized there was ample education on all aspects of life after her particular surgery except when it came to sex.
Alex realized that many individuals see people with disabilities as inherently non-sexual. And she decided that she would return to pornography and sex work not just to make money, but to show people that disabled people are just like everyone else.
She said, “Disabled people watch porn, masturbate, and have sex. Why shouldn’t we be represented in the pornography we are consuming?”
I recently had the chance to talk with the madame of Sheri’s Ranch (a legal brothel located near Las Vegas), Dena Duff, and this topic came up during our conversation. One of her goals for the Ranch is to be inclusive and ensure that all disabled clients have an equally enjoyable experience.
She said: “Everybody wants to be loved. Everybody wants to be touched. Everybody wants to feel like they’re attractive.”
Sheri’s Ranch goes out of their way to make sure everyone truly feels that way. Some of the women who work there even specialize in working with disabled clients as more continue to train so they can as well. As Duff mentioned during our conversation, there isn’t a general disability. There are many different types of disabled people that come to the Ranch, and having so many employees trained ensures that any client coming to the Ranch can have the experience they want and may have never had.
That’s because for some disabled people, sex is something they only experience with sex workers like those at the Ranch or if they aren’t able to travel, a digital sexual experience through a site like OnlyFans. Dating and finding connection can be a struggle for exactly the reason that Alex mentioned: too many people assume disabled people are not sexual beings.
But they are, and it’s time they get to be all aspects of themselves in person or online.